Turn-based portable board game

ABSTRACT

A board game and method of playing the board game are described. The board and pieces are magnetic and waterproof, enabling the game to be played in most human settings. Players of the board game move their pieces around the board and interact with other pieces according to the game rules including attacking other players pieces, removing other player pieces from the playing field, locating neutral pieces, moving neutral pieces, and bringing more pieces into the game. The invention encompasses adapting the board game rules to play the game in a digital format on a computer, smartphone, or tablet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/368,789 filed Jul. 19, 2022 which is hereby incorporated by reference in the entity for all purposes.

PRIOR ART

Board games are a common form of entertainment.

Magnetic board games are more portable. Popular turn-based strategy games such as chess and checkers have been made into various forms, including portable and magnetic forms. A magnetic board game utilizes a magnetic field between the pieces and the board to keep the pieces on the same place on the board until a player moves the piece. Magnetic board games allow pieces to stay in place if force is impacted to the board, or if the board is tilted with respect to a gravitational axis. Magnetic board games allow the game to be more portable because the board can be moved without the pieces on it moving relative to the board. Magnetic board games allow pieces to stay in contact with the board via the magnetic field and make it more difficult to lose pieces when the game and pieces are moved.

Chess and checkers utilize a square grid to divide the playing field into tiles where pieces are located. More recently created turn-based strategy games frequently utilize hexagonal patterns to divide the playing field into tiles. Popular games using a hexagonal playing field include Catan, Civilizations VI, Scythe, and many more. In a traditional square grid, the sides of each tile are in contact with up to four other tiles. In a hexagonal playing field, the sides of a single hexagonal tile may be in contact with up to six other tiles. A hexagonal playing field allows for different movement mechanics than a traditional square grid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Problems involved: There is a want for a magnetic waterproof board game incorporating a hexagonal playing field to provide a portable board game that can be played in virtually any human environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention encompasses a portable board game designed to be played in various environments. The board and game pieces are made of a magnetic material allowing the pieces to stay in place on the board if the board is moved, hit, or tilted. The board and pieces are waterproof. The game rules are designed to promote portability of the board game. The combination of the game rules and the physical attributes of the game provide a portable board game that can be played in nearly any human environment.

Players of the board game move their pieces around the board and interact with other pieces according to the game rules including attacking other player pieces, removing other player pieces from the playing field, locating neutral pieces, moving neutral pieces, and bringing more pieces into the game. The invention encompasses adapting the board game rules to play the game in a digital format on a computer, smartphone, tablet or other device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the game playing field from a top view. The playing field (2) is composed of hexagonal tiles (3) arranged in a honeycomb pattern.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the game. The game board (1) contains the playing field (2) on it. Game pieces (4) are placed on the playing field on an individual hexagonal tile (3).

FIG. 3 shows a game piece (4). Game pieces (4) have an icon (5) indicating the type of piece it is.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a board game is disclosed which includes: a game board (1) containing a hexagonal playing field (2). The playing field (2) is composed of a plurality of hexagonal (3) tiles arranged in a honeycomb pattern. Games pieces (4) are placed on the game board. The game board (1) and game pieces (4) are made of a magnetized material that allows both to stay in contact with each other. The game pieces (4) may be cylindrical shape.

Each player has a plurality of pieces (4) where all a player's pieces have the same unique color corresponding to that player's team. Each of the player's pieces (4) have a different icon (5) indicating the type of piece it is and how it interacts with other pieces according to the game rules. There is at least one neutral piece (4) that is not part of any players team.

The hexagonal tiles (3) each are a color corresponding to either a players team color, the neutral piece(s) (4) color or a second neutral color. Pieces (4) on the playing field are placed on top of one tile (3) and are moved by players onto other tiles based on the game rules.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, players begin the game with one piece (4) in the game. At least one neutral piece (4) is located on the playing field (2) on a hex tile (3) corresponding to the color of the neutral piece. Players move their pieces (4) around the board according to the game rules. Players may attack other player's pieces (4) by moving onto the same tile (3) as another player's piece (4) according to the game rules. Attacked pieces (4) may be eliminated from the game according to the game rules. Players may locate the neutral piece (4) by moving their piece (4) onto the tile (3) a neutral piece (4) is located on. Once a player locates a neutral piece (4) they may bring a new piece (4) into the game according to the game rules. The player who located the neutral piece (4) may move it to another tile (3) on the playing field (2) according to the game rules. Pieces (4) that are not in the game may be placed on the game board (1) outside of the playing field (2).

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention players may bring new pieces (4) onto the playing field (2) only by placing the piece (4) onto a tile (3) corresponding to that piece's team color. There may be up to six player teams/colors. A player may have up to five different pieces each with a different icon on them (5). The game may end when a player wins. A player may win when all other players pieces (4) are eliminated from the game. A player may also win if they bring all their pieces (4) into the game and move one onto the center tile.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, pieces may be referred to by name based on the icon (5) on the piece. Player pieces (4) may be called 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. Player pieces (4) may be called Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot, Survivor. Player pieces (4) may be called Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Survivor. The neutral piece(s) (4) may be called 0. The neutral pieces(s) (4) may be called Oasis(es). The neutral color tile(s) (3) corresponding the color of the neutral piece (4) may be called desert(s). The center tile may be the second neutral color. Each corner tile (3) of the hexagonal playing field (2) may be a different unique player color, this tile may be where the player's first piece (4) starts the game.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the game rules, board (1), playing field (2) and pieces (4) are adapted to play in a digital format on a computer, phone, tablet, or other digital device.

In one embodiment the game rules may include one or more of the following rules:

-   -   a. Pieces:         -   i. There are 6 different Teams, each with a different Color.             Each Color has 5 pieces: Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Survivor.         -   ii. There are two Oases.     -   b. Starting         -   i. Each player picks a Team.         -   ii. The Survivor begins in the playing field on their Camp             tile (the exterior corner tile of their Color).         -   iii. Rock Paper Scissors battle to find out who goes first,             or otherwise decide. Turns advance clockwise.         -   iv. The last two players to go place an Oasis on Desert             tiles not closer to their camp than another's.     -   c. Movement         -   i. A player may move each piece of their color in the game             up to two adjacent tiles. A piece may move one, or no tiles             on a turn. Players move pieces onto tiles that are adjacent             to the tile they are currently on.         -   ii. Pieces may not move onto:             -   1. an occupied tile except to attack the piece that is                 on it.             -   2. another players Camp tile.             -   3. the Center tile except to win.             -   4. Desert tiles except to reach an Oasis     -   d. Oases         -   i. Oases may only be placed on Desert tiles.         -   ii. When a piece reaches an Oasis, they             -   1. place the piece that reached the Oasis back on their                 Camp tile             -   2. bring a new piece into the game onto a tile of their                 Color that is not closer to the other Oasis than another                 player's piece is.             -   3. Finish moving their other pieces, then at the end of                 their turn place the Oasis on a Desert tile that is not                 closer to their own piece than another player's piece.         -   iii. Pieces may not move on the turn they are brought in or             after they locate an Oasis.         -   iv. Pieces may be brought into the game onto a tile that             another player's piece is located on and attack them.         -   v. If there are no possible Deserts to place the oasis on,             the player who's turn preceded places the Oasis.         -   vi. A player may not reach an Oasis when they have a piece             on their Camp.     -   e. Attacking         -   i. Players may attack other players pieces by moving onto             the tile occupied by that piece.         -   ii. Earth beats Air beats Water beats Earth: Fire loses to             any piece that attacks it but may attack a Survivor.         -   iii. Pieces of the same rank may attack other pieces of the             same rank, EXCEPT when the defending piece is on a tile of             their own color.         -   iv. A piece that is attacked is removed from the game.             Non-Survivor pieces that are attacked can come back.         -   v. If a Survivor piece is attacked, that player loses, and             removes all their pieces from the Board.     -   f. Winning         -   i. There are two ways to win: (1) have all 5 pieces in the             game AND move the Survivor onto the center tile OR (2) have             the last Survivor left in the game 

1. A portable board game comprising: a. A game board (1) with a hexagonal playing field (2) formed by a plurality of hexagonal tiles (3) arranged in a honeycomb pattern; b. Game pieces (4) placed on the hexagonal playing field (2) of the game board (1); c. The game board (1) and game pieces (4) made of a magnetized material to enable the game pieces (4) to stay in contact with the hexagonal playing field (2) through a magnetic force; d. Each player possessing a plurality of game pieces (4) with each player's pieces (4) being of a unique color corresponding to that player's team, and each player's pieces (4) featuring a different icon (5) to indicate the type of piece it represents and its interactions with other pieces according to game rules; e. At least one neutral piece (4) not associated with any player's team; f. The hexagonal tiles (3) each colored with a color corresponding to either a player's team color, the neutral piece (4) color, or a second neutral color; g. The game pieces (4) moved around the hexagonal playing field (2) by players based on the game rules.
 2. The portable board game of claim 1, wherein the game starts with each player having one piece (4) in the game located on a corner tile (3) with the same color as the piece color, and at least one neutral piece (4) located on the playing field (2) on a hexagonal tile (3) corresponding to the color of the neutral piece (4).
 3. The portable board game of claim 1, wherein players may bring new pieces (4) onto the playing field (2) only by placing the piece (4) onto a tile (3) corresponding to that piece's color, and each player may have up to five different pieces (4) each featuring a different icon (5) representing the piece's type.
 4. The portable board game of claim 1, wherein the games ends when a player wins, and a player may win by either eliminating all other players' pieces (4) from the game or by bringing all their pieces (4) into the game and moving one onto the center tile of the hexagonal playing filed (2).
 5. The portable board game of claim 1, wherein the game rules, game board (1), hexagonal playing field (2) and game pieces (4) are adapted for digital play on a computer, smartphone, tablet, or other digital devices.
 6. A method of playing a portable board game comprising the steps of: a. Providing a game board (1) with a hexagonal playing field (2) formed by a plurality of hexagonal tiles (3) arranged in a honeycomb pattern; b. Placing game pieces (4) on the hexagonal playing field (2) of the game board (1); c. Utilizing a magnetized material for the game board (1) and game pieces (4) to enable the game pieces (4) to stay in contact with the hexagonal playing field through a magnetic force; d. Assigning each player a plurality of game pieces (4) with each player's pieces (4) being of a unique color corresponding to that player's team and featuring a different icon (5) indicating the type of piece it represents and its interactions with other pieces according to game rules; e. Incorporating at least one neutral piece (4) not associated with any player's team; f. Coloring the hexagonal tiles (3) with colors corresponding to a player's team color, the neutral pieces(s) (4) color, or a second neutral color; g. Allowing players to move the game pieces (4) around the hexagonal playing field (2) based on the game rules, including attacking other player's pieces (4), locating and moving neutral pieces (4), and bringing new pieces (4) into the game.
 7. The method of playing the portable board game of claim 6, wherein the game starts with each player having one piece (4) in the game, and at least on neutral piece (4) is located on the playing field (2) on a hexagonal tile (3) corresponding to the color of the neutral piece (4).
 8. The method of playing the portable board game of claim 6, wherein players may bring new pieces (4) onto the playing field (2) only by placing the piece (4) onto a tile (3) corresponding to the piece's team color, and each player may have up to five different pieces (4) each featuring a different icon (5) representing the piece's type.
 9. The method of playing the portable board game of claim 6, wherein the game ends when a player wins, and a player may win according to game rules by either eliminating all other players' pieces (4) from the game or by bringing all their pieces (4) into the game and moving one onto the center tile of the hexagonal playing field (2). 